Grain-cleaning apparatus.



. O r b No. 887.196. I PATENTED MAY 12, 1908. M. F. JANNBY & J. GRAHAM.

GRAIN CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION man AUG. 11,1001.

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UNITED SATS PATENT @FFICE.

MILLARD FILLMORE JANNEY, OF WHEATLAND, AND JULIUS GRAHAM, OF LINCOLN, VIRGINIA.

GRAIN-CLEANING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters "Patent.

Patented May 12, 1908.

Application filed August 17, 1907. Serial No. 389,023.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MILLARD F. J ANNEY and JULIUS GRAHAM, citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, at l/Vheatland and Lincoln, in the county of Loudoun and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Grain-Cleaning Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to grain cleaning apparatus and is designed for use in cleaning grain which has been stored, the cleaning operation preferably taking place at the mill or elevator where the grain is to be ground.

Grain which has been stored and transported from place to place accumulates a large amount of objectionable substances all of which should be removed in order to obtain a superior product within the mill. Various devices have heretofore been utilized for this purpose all of which, however, have been more or less objectionable.

The object of the present invention is to provide an efi icient cleaning apparatus which will not readily clog and which will thoroughly separate the grain from objectionable materials, dust, etc.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel featuresv of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and. pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of the complete apparatus. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through one of the sections of the spout. Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sections through modified forms of spouts. Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 2 and showing a modified arrangement of baffles.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, A designates a vertically disposed spout made up of a plurality of sections each of which has been designated by the numeral 1. As shown in Fig. 2 each section may be oblong in cross section although, if preferred and as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the sections can be square or circular in cross section. Each section is open at both ends and one of these ends is surrounded by a guard flange 2 so that a desired number of sections may be placed end to end to form a continuous passage therethrough the flanges 2 serving to hold the sections against lateral displace ment. A door 3 is provided for each section,

said door preferably constituting one wall of the section. These doors are preferably mounted on hinges 4 and provided with any suitable means for locking them when closed.

Extending inwardly from the walls of each spout section are inclined series of baffles 5 consisting preferably of angular pointed nails. These baffles are arranged spirally within the spout sections and when the sections are assembled the bafiles constitute a continuous spiral. As shown particularly in Fig. 2 the baffles upon opposite walls of the spout terminate at opposite sides of the center of the spout so that a small curved space is produced. One ormore spout sections 6 may be interposed between the sections 1. These sections are similar to sections 1 with the exception that the baffles are eliminated. The lower spout section rests upon a trough 7 the bottom of which is formed of a screen 8 inclined at a sufficient angle to permit grain to travel downward thereonby gravity. This screen is designed to direct the grain into an elevator 9. Screen 8 is located across the inlet 1.0 ofa fan casing 11 and a flue 12 extends from said casing. A fan 13 of any preferred form is located Within the casing and designed to operate in the manner here inafter set forth. The top section 1 is pro vided with a hopper 14 above which is mounted a cylindrical screen 15 carried by a shaft 16 which may be driven in any preferred manner. A feed chute 16 opens into one end of the screen and a discharge spout 17 extends from the other end thereof.

In using the apparatus herein described the grain tobe cleaned is supplied to the screen 15 from spout 16 and this screen when rotated will direct any large material outward through the spout 17 while the grain, and smaller particles will fall through the screen and into the hopper 1 1. This hopper will direct the grain into the u per end of the chute A through which it will fall by gravity. During this downward movement the grain will be rubbed and torn apart by the baffles projecting into the path thereof and by the time it reaches the screen 8 all dust, white caps, fuzz, etc. will have been removed. The screen 8 will prevent the grain from passing into the outlet 10 but the current of air established through the screen by the fan 13 will cause the lighter particles to pass downward through the screen and to be projected outward through flue 12 to any receptacle which may be provided. If, for any reason,

the grain should pack within one or more of the sections of the chute A the doors of these sections can be opened so that access may be readily had to the interior of the chute. By providing one or more clear sections within the spout the danger of clogging is reduced to the minimum. It is to be understood that the chute A can be made of any desired height and that its efliciency will be increased in proportion to the height thereof.

As shown in Fig. 5 the baffles 5 need not be of the same length but can be formed with long or short nails arranged alternately as indicated at 19 and 20. An irregular space is thus roduced between the bafiies which will at times be found more desirable than a space such as disclosed in Fig. 2.

What is claimed is: w

1. In a grain cleaner the combination with a chute comprising superposed sections and a closure for each section; of a spirally ar ranged series of baffle devices within the chute, means for directing grain into the upper end of the chute, an inclined screen for directing grain from the bottom of the chute, and means for withdrawing material lighter than grain from under the screen.

3. n a grain cleaner a chute consisting of a plurality of superposed sections, means for holding the sections against displacement, a spiral series of teeth within each section and constituting baffles, a screened inlet at the upper end of the chute, a screen constituting the bottom of the chute, and a suction device for withdrawing material through said bottom.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto aflixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

M ILLA RD FILLMORE J ANN EY. JULIUS GRAHAM.

Witnesses:

M. F. BIRDSALL, J. F. MCGAVACK. 

